By MICHAEL MIYOBA
THE Zambia Boxing Federation (ZBF) says it is happy with the progress made by boxers preparing for the Olympic Games scheduled to kick off next month in Tokyo.
In an interview, ZBF General Secretary Westie Chewe said his executive is doing everything possible to ensure that welterweight Stephen Zimba, flyweight Patrick Chinyemba and featherweight Everisto Mulenga prepare adequately for the games.
Chewe said the three boxers impressed in Botswana where they had set up camp to prepare for the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games which will run from July 21-August 6.
He said after having a successful outing in Botswana, the boxing federation is still working to set up another international camp for the boxers.
“The preparations are progressing well. We have seen positive results. The team did very well in Botswana and now the boxers are all in good shape and after returning from Botswana they went straight into a local camp.
“We are planning for another international outing for the boxers but because there is an issue of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are trying to see which countries are safe from Covid so that we can be able to send our boxers for another outing before the games in Japan kick off,” Chewe said.
Chewe is confident that the boxers will be able to come back home with medals because of the dedication they are showing in training.
“With the way they are training and the way they are coordinating with the coach they are doing very well and we don’t want to disappoint the nation and I’m very positive that we will be able to win medals in Japan,” he said.
He said ZBF as a new executive has also established an understanding with affiliates aimed at uniting the federation for the benefit of the boxers across the country.
Chewe said ZBF has also prioritised the development of female boxers who were neglected in the past.
